A COMPULSORY purchase order has been put on a crumbling Liverpool landmark.

A COMPULSORY purchase order has been put on a crumbling Liverpool landmark.

Conservation chiefs say they have run out of patience with the lack of work on St Andrew's church in Rodney Street, Liverpool council is compulsorily buying the grade II listed building, which is on the ECHO's Stop the Rot hitlist, so it can be repaired for the good of the city.

But if owner Dr Amoolya Prasad, who lives in the west Midlands, appeals against the order, which includes a direction for only minimum compensation, it could tie up the Rodney Street site in legal wrangles for up to 18 months.

The council is confident it has the funds to buy the site and hopes to find a regeneration partner to restore the building - which could cost at least #2m.

Council leader Mike Storey said: " We gave fair warning we would act if steps were not taken to halt the decline of this important building. Our patience ran out.

The church is a top priority on English Heritage's buildings at risk register.

Henry Owen John, director of the north west region, said: "The decision to begin compulsory purchase proceedings is excellent news, not only for Stop the Rot but for the people of Liverpool.

"Since the appointment of John Thompson as Liverpool's buildings at risk officer, Stop the Rot has fought to stop the decline and ultimately the loss of some of Liverpool's most important buildings at risk.

"Today marks an important turning point in this campaign."

The landmark site, vacant since the 1980s, includes St Andrew's Church of Scotland, a Sunday school and a pyramid memorial to W Mackenzie, both grade II listed.

In 1983 the church suffered a major fire and the left tower had to be removed. The site was bought by Dr Prasad in 1988.

Planning permission and listed building consent was granted in 1992 for offices and medical consulting rooms, and revised applications approved in 1996.

Repai r s notices were served in 2001 but although work was not started within two months as required, no CPO was imposed.

Some repairs began in December 2002 with scaffolding erected, brickwork repointed and some trees and shrubs cleared from the site.

Dr Prasad was given a further repairs notice in March, setting out demands for substantial work, including reinstating the roof, windows and doors, and repairing the gate piers, walls and monuments.

He was given a two-month deadline to show he was working towards these repairs but the council claims that after four months he has failed to do this.